Moving to the next phase.....

Well we have returned from a great visit to my Mom and Dad's. Got to spend great time with my Nephew's Mark and David and see some old friends with a trip down memory lane at a swim meet last Thursday night. Also worked to get my Mom and Dad's computer up and running and clean up some of the issues they were having. This trip was one of the things I really wanted to do with my new found free time and the trip was better than planned for sure.

Now as I return home. My wife spent many hours putting the finishing touches on our new "little" home. It is amazing that we went from a 3500 sq ft house to a small two bedroom apartment and we are finding plenty of room for our stuff. I can tell you the cleaning and maintaining of our little house is so much easier, I really like it. Jodi put that speical touch with pictures and decorations that made it comfortable. The girls are settling into their bunk beds and sharing a room pretty well, it is a big change for them. But by the laughing and giggling coming from the room at night when the lights go out it can't be all bad. Do you remember those days if you shared a room with a sibling? So now its time to start slowly thinking about whats next.

God has told me, "one day at a time". I will honor that. Yesterday Jodi and I went to Wells Fargo and set up a bunisess account for her business. She has been successful in gaining some pretty good accounts and it is time to take it to the next level. We have hired our first employee, well second if you count me, our cousin Jon to help work the cities as he begins to use his degree to gain some experience. I also spent the night getting our credit card reader set up so we can now take cards off my Ipad and speed up the payment process greatly. This is all very exciting. My heart is being lead to this and it is where I feel God wants me to put my time. We are going to build a godly business with a good part of it going back to the Kingdom for what god intends the money for. Our business is JC Wanner Athelitic Apparel and Promotions. We will follow the book "Annointed for Business" as our model. In this book Jodi and I learned that the marketplace can be the best ministry there is and that god wants to use this area to reach the lost and to prosper the kingdom. We actually taught a class on it at our church where I think we learned more from it than anyone. Jodi is a gifted salesperson, she can sell ice to and Eskimo, I bring the business and admin piece to the puzzle and mirroring up our two talents should with God's blessing take us where we need to go.

But for now going to continue enjoying the summer. Tonight I am taking my mother in law and her friends out fishing. This has been something we have been trying to do for years and I really look forward to finally making it happen and maybe it being a regular event. Hope it works better than last night when the girls and I got chased off the lake by a storm that popped up. Oh well, Hayley still caught one fish in the 20 minutes we were out.

So I can say I am beginning to settle into a grove. Next major step is finding a church to settle into. Youth group is a very important requirement. Our girls have a solid foundation in the lord, I really want them to find a youth group where God can use thier gifts and talents and to grow in their walk. I think I know where god wants me to go just waiting for that validation. Take care and make sure you are taking time to spend time in his presence, it will make a difference believe me.

News.....tough to watch

I wish I could write about the two great days I have had here in Rochelle but God has a different idea for me so here it is.

I first want to say I will add the families of all effected by the horrible tragedy in Colorado today to my prayer list. I hate watching the news it truly is depressing and rough to watch our great society slip deeper into disappear. So my heart and thoughts stay with those families while the news stations try to figure out how to make more money off these poor people. NBC news kept bringing a 17 year old boy on who escaped out of the theater, as the day wore on he was exhausted and they kept asking him questions to dig deeper to relive the tragedy he just witnessed and then said, "he must be in shock thinking about this", IDOITS!!!!! (sorry, just frustrated and hate stupidity)

I want to say I'm not political at all I think they all are messed up and have only thier self interests at hand. But I have to ask why are we shocked when a person acts out what is put out in front of us and our kids each day on a movie, tv screen or a video game system, where senseless violence and death our normal? Death in the game world isn't real and the more violent you make it the cooler and more popular the game. Just add a little sexual content and you have a mega hit on your hand. It is sad. Hey I'm far from perfect and I have watched plenty of movies that probably I shouldn't have but for today's society this is all the norm. I guess it is a lot easier to keep my girls away from it just because they are, well, girls. I guess the only way to control it is we as parents have to intercede and be parents not our kids best friends. I guess for anything they are exposed to via any medium has to be scrutinized. It drives my daughters crazy when I make them turn off Wizards of Waverly place because of the witchcraft reference. Our an I Carley or Disney show when the characters are just simply not talking nice to eachother. Jodi and I call it speaking life to one another and if the words are not positive about someone then they should be said.

God has placed it on my heart to be bold tonight so here it is. Look at what your kids are playing with and watching. Would it be pleasing to God and his son? And also wouldn't we honor those lost today by taking a stand against the things of this world that truly go against all that Jesus died for on the cross? Maybe your a non believer as you read this, then do it for those people and the shooters parents who just cannot make sense out of what happened and that a trip to a movie theater which we have all done, changed thier lives forever.

Jesus we need you, I need you and I pray for all those to come to know you, your safety and comfort and awesome love that I experience everyday.

My childhood home visit....

Just completed the 8 hour journey down to Rochelle, Il to my boyhood home to visit my mom and dad. Abbey and Hayley joined me, Jodi she stayed home because she had to work. That just sounds strange? Can I tell you god is always working. There were a ton of heavy storms in out path but as we got close to them they had either passed by or were just off to the west or north. God's perfect timing is in everything to keep us safe. When you believe and pray for God's protection it is always there, again, another simple example that I used to take for granted until I slowed my life down and now can see things more clearly.

As I write this post I am looking out over our backyard. A lot has changed, the trees are certinly taller, some of the landscaping is different but the yard where I played many hours of football and baseball our still in tact. This is the place where I was a all pro quaterback, an all star hitter, and a super hero, but most of all I was just a little boy who had everything in the world. I am very blessed to have had such a wonderful childhood, it made me the person I am today. My parents were terffic, loving when I needed love, hard on me when I was wandering off the path but most of all they just made things safe and comfortable. I think things today have become way to complicated, the I Pad I am typing on is great but for a kid it distracts them away from using their imaginations to be more than they are right now. Simple play. I remember one time we had a huge snow drift that I carved out the cockpit of the Mach V, that was Speed Racers car for those who don't know and I played in that for hours and days. I truly believed in my mind that it existed and I had more fun doing that than any toy I ever recieved. Dreams and Dreamers are what made this country, where has that spirit gone in this time of political correctness?

As for my Mom and her health, she looks great and is getting around well. My dad has been taking great care of himself also and has lost weight and is getting around much better than before. 17 years of my mom battling cancer has taken a toll though. Her short term memory from the chemo and radiation has been greatly effected though she works through it she gets frustrated at times the simple things she forgets. I say most of what she forgets are not important so I think it is a blessing. Having her girls here adds a spark to her step she said this morning that this is the best she has felt in a year, grand kids have that magic power you know, make sure your parents get to enjoy there grand kids no matter what family circumstance is occurring, it is just part of the natural flow of life.

My friend Jeff Kerr posted a great blog yesterday on following Gods path and trusting him and not what the world says is right or wrong. You can read it on his web site fourthfloor.org and see the amazing things God is doing with a family that has put all thier trust in him to take care of them. Though I am a baby on this journey I am on, it is great having friends we can turn to who understand the challenges we face. Interesting the challenges 99.9% of the time are not on what I am doing walking away from corporate america, it is more on the opinions and ideas others have on what they perceive on how I should live my life. I chose to trust god and not the world.

Today will be fun. Mom and Dad, Mark and David and the girls and I are going to surprise Uncle John for lunch for his 50th b-day next week. He flew into Rockford last night on a lay over so were taking this time to celebrate his day. He has no idea his nieces are here...SHHHHHHHH.....have a blessed day!!!

Weekend in review

Man weekends are crazy but its a good crazy, you know the kind I'm talking about.

Friday night I took Abbey for her first trip into the pits at the races in Fergus Falls. We rode with Jeff and Larry in the hauler up there. She loved it, she is a Race Girl. She still has the arm band on that they give you. The race well that wasn't so good. Jeff got caught up in a wreck when the leader spun out on his own, really who does that? Jeff had a theory on why but I can't put that in print. The wreck started a quandry of errors that I will say upset Jeff just a tad and his car ended up staying in the inflield until after the races and the fireworks display was over. The night ended with a banged up car and some tired pit crew members and a race just 18 hours away. But true to form the team would sleep and ralley the next morning to get ready for Saturday night.

Saturday we got to spend a great time out on the lake with Mindy and Marty, Jacey and Tracie, along with Hayley, Jodi and me. Abbey was just a tad to tired after Friday night she needed a alone hang out day. Very hot the waters of Lake Carlos felt great!!! Then I headed off to the races to try it all again. And of course the 29 won less than 24 hours from the disaster of Friday night. I guess it is why it is so addictive, its the highs and lows but when its a high its a good high!! Hung out at the track after until 230 am. Thanks JT for the pizza after your win too, I do like the Philly Cheese Steak the best.

Sunday Jodi worked on organizing our place. Got through our room and getting our cloths taken care of. Its tight but they fit and it looks really good. Just the kitchen to organize and were done with this part of the move. Jodi started working at Angelinas last night. The girls and I went into visit. Man can that girl light up a room. SHe is so good with people and just loves to make everyone happy they are very lucky to have her on the team. I proud of you Jodi!!

Well its start of a new week, though I think I'm going to melt. It is suppose to be 107 with the heat index today.....Lake Carlos here we come!!!

It has arrived....

Yeah, our stuff finally arrived about 3pm yesterday. We unloaded until about 7 pm last night and began unpacking. Looks like everything made it in decent shape considering it rode via truck and train. Got our bed set up and slept in it last night, now it feels like home. Chevy the cat who loves our bed slept with Jodi and I all night right in the same spot he always did, he also is settling in. Lots of unpacking to do today but it really should not be that hard. The challenge will be organizing in a smaller space as we have downsized greatly.

I guess I can close out this chapter of this great adventure that started on May 9 in Las Vegas when I was given a choice on my future and made the choice to trust god. Now on July 12 the first step of choosing to be free and take my life back has been accomplished, it took a ton of hard work and faith. God really did a lot these past two months. Not necessarily in the big things but all the small little things he manipulated to keep us on the right track and fill in our needs at every turn.

Now as we finished settling in we begin the next chapter. One thing for sure is that we will take it one day at a time. That is hard to do as you all know but if you walk through today and trust that god is out ahead of you clearing the path, it is much easier to stay on the right one. As we project into the distance and future we see so many things we want in our worldly minds that we start wandering off gods path and when you wander off it takes time to get back on and those are the seasons of trails in our lives.

My thanks go out to Jodi who has been the greatest wife through all this, her effort and support has been unmatched. She has and always will be by my side. She has always believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. She has honored god with her loving heart for all people no matter what and I truly believe the next chapter in our lives is more about her than me. Thanks Yolti for hanging in there these past two months you rock!!

My second foot just landed on the bridge of faith and I'm all in now.......

Taking a step over the edge....

Messing with the design again trying to be able to post more pictures it is a work in progress. I thought the other background was to dark so I brightened it up a bit. I am still a mental midget when it comes to this computer thing. I know just enough to be dangerous.

Well our stuff is suppose to be here today, as of 1pm still nothing, like everything else I'm sure it will be tomorrow. Moving.......and Moving companies....ugh!!! I am excited to get it and set up our little home. Jodi has been working her tail off to get ready organizing everything and has done a great job as usual. She rocks, if you want to hire her to organize your life and things let me know she truly likes to do it.

I got a lot of comments on my prayer blog yesterday, if you need prayers for anything please send them to me in email at wanner.michael@hotmail.com and I will add them to my list. They will be held in complete confidence I am the only one who has access to this email account and my list is private. I think it is really important that I do this. My list grew for myself overnight as I reflected on differnt things in my life. If the list grows and I have to spend the whole day praying over it I will because like I said yesterday our Dad likes to hear from all of us. Todays reading was on God's love....there is about 50 blogs on that alone.

I leave you with these thoughts that I was was hit with today as I learned about God's true love. Our worldly view of passing and leaving this earth scares all of us correct? What god lead me to today is that we all hold a clear "worldly view" of death. We all fear the unknown and we are scared when we don't know what will happen next in our everyday lives. What he taught me today is the godly view of this would be exact oppisite. If all of us knew and believed what heaven really was like would we fear death? There are many glimpses of heaven in the bible, you get a new body, eternal life and happiness are promised, no more sorrow or pain. If you believe his word would we all just walk right into it leaving this world behind? And the only ticket we need to get there is believing his son Jesus died for our sins and we are washed clean, then our name is put on the list for the eternal party!! This is also why it is so important to get all the people we love and care about to know Gods truth and his son Jesus so they can join us in this wonderful place.

I know talking about death isn't popular but what I'm learning as I have taken this step over the cliff into my new life is that he is there, I'm am living ulimate faith that he is in control and that he will take care of me here on earth. It just makes it simple for me to believe in heaven now. It's like the scene from Indiana Jones where he is at the cliffs edge and if he believed there would be a way across. He believed and stepped off and god provided the bridge. I just planted my first foot firmly on God's bridge and if I believe the path will remain clear to safety and comfort.

Have a wonderful day

Gone Fishing....

Yeaterday I made it offical I went and got my Minnesota drivers and fishing license, then I took the girls out last night fishing, what a great time. The girls did really well, Abbey caught 6 fish including two walleye, Hayley got four and Daddy had 5, including two really big largemouth bass. But into each life a little rain must fall, as the bugs started there attack at sunset last night I went to start the boat.....nothing the three year old battery had its last day. Here we are about a 1/2 mile from the boat launch, not a boat in sight and under major bug attack, in the pitch dark. A moment of panic set in. Called Jodi and told her our issue, bless her heart like she was going to be able to help? The short moment of panic lead to a idea started by Abbey holding a rope and me saying maybe I will swim the boat in. Yes finally, all those years of swim team finally paid off. I grabbed a life vest and tied the rope to the front then around my waste and proceeded to swim a 3500 pound boat a 1/2 mile to the dock. All my working out started to kick in. Doesn't seem too bad, if you think that you should try it, there isn't a work out on the planet that can hit all the muscle groups I did. So a bad situation turned positive and Abbey at the end thanked me for being so brave, kind of made me feel good.

In my reflection time this morning I used god's message he gave to Pete on Sunday about praying and put it into use. One of the greatest tips given in the message was to create a prayer list. I sat down and made one this morning I ended up with about ten topics to pray on, the first one was thanking god for this blessing of time he has given me to enjoy my life and to prepare for what is next. We all have heard messages on praying and that its important. We all have said and heard I will be praying for you, how many of us actually have done what we have said? I will admit it 99.9% of the time it was just words to comfort in the momment. I challenge all of you who are reading this to take 5 minutes and jot down what you believe you should pray about, then carve out a small amount of time today and pray theough the list. Our lists will all look differnt but God wants to hear from us even though he knows all. There is no right or wrong way to pray god isnt judging or presentation, our father just wants us to talk to him about what is on our minds. Matthew 6 verse 5-8 gives you instructions for how to pray if you need to see in the word what god is looking for, no better instruction manual than the word of god, is there? This will be my focus now, it is clearly the one area I am lacking in greatly and the message on Sunday truly hit home. Just think you might be on my prayer list as I am talking to the father about what ever it is your going through in a quite private moment with the one who can fix everything, there is great peace in that. Thanks to all who have been lifting me up in their prayers through the years, I look to return the favor now. I know one for sure in Franky who has been praying for me long before I ever met Jodi and with him on my side praying I know he is listening!!

Have a blessed day!!!

The Big Catch Up

Back to the blogosphere!!! Not that I haven't had anything to write, it is just there has been so much going on that I just havent had time to write it all down. Here is the summary of the last few wonderful days that the lord has blessed me with, most importantly the wonderful people we have gotten to spend it with.

The 4th of July. It was oppressively hot and humid, mid 90's and dew points in the upper 70's making it feel like a 105 and making you feel like you were sprayed by a garden hose all day. We had the 5th annnual Trucker Wanner fireworks display and party. This year we had over 60 people attend. Fun evening of food and fireworks and yes, the bean bag tournement won by my father in law Larry and Rick. Earlier in the day our good friends Bob and Hillary and their two boys drove up to spend the 4th and 5th. We went out and enjoyed the boat parade on Lake Carlos. We met Tracie, Andrea, Jacey and Jackson who had his first trip on Truckers boat. After the parade we found the deepest, coldest spot on the lake to swim and beat the heat, there is no better way to do it than that.

We spent the fifth all day out on the water with Bob and Hillary. It was just one of those perfect days with a mix of fun, sun and relaxing and some great conversation. I even made it on the tube with Abbey and Hayley offically brought the first fish of the season in, a nice large mouth bass that put up a great fight but she handled it like a pro. Way daddy's girl!!

Friday we got to go to a family wedding, our cousin Joey married Bobbie Jo. They were married in the same church as Jodi and I and also had their reception at the Barn. That was the first time I have been back to the Barn for a wedding, I can't believe we had 350 people in there? It was a lot of fun, I think the most fun I had was towards the end of the night when Shane, Rogg and I were sitting off the dance floor people watching commenting on the activities that were occuring there. Has anyone ever noticed that the more people drink the closer they get to eachother? Near the last songs alll the dancing was being done by 30 people in a 10 ft square area as they were singing the songs at the top of there lungs to eachother. By the way though my wife doesn't drink she was part of the dance circle. Funny, funny stuff for sure.

The weekend was filled with racing, it was the Mod nationals here in Alex. 50 plus of the best modified drivers in the country were here to compete it draws large crowds and makes for exciting racing. Jeff's race weekend didn't go so well, Saturday he made an aggressive move for the win that didn't quite work but sure was fun to watch, then Sunday the motor broke while leading a pretty stout field of cars. Hung out with the gang until 2:30 am Sunday night after the races shooting the breeze. Congrads to JT and the 52 for his second place finish and the $4500 he pocketed.

Also on Saturday we got to spend time with Jeff and Kristie Kerr and their wonderful family out on the boat. Jeff was the worship leader at our old church in Farmington which is one of the fastest growing churches in the country. He and Kristie are wonderfully talented and part of why I felt so great and grew so much there in that church. There worship music and creative talents God has blessed them with allows them to bring god's messages in many different forms and reach many people. The Kerr's have another connection to me. Jeff a year and half ago with a wife, four kids and a mortage walked away from that job. People couldn't believe it, why would he do that. After talking to him Saturday it was very clear, not matter where you work or what your title is there are just tremedous pressures and stress that take time and focus off what is really important in our lives. Jeff listened to God and took the huge leap of faith and trusted that god would take care of them and he has!! Is it always easy and a bed of roses, no, but what ever is? Jeff has written a book, "Either He's God or He's Not" I have a copy and look forward to reading it. If your interested in getting the book go to Fourthfloor.org for a copy and to learn more about the awesome things Jeff and Kristie are doing for the Kingdom. So I can say god has put a great friend in my path to help me through those tough times, someone who truly understands that "step over the cliff" and Gods mighty hand there to catch you.

The first week has been crazy and good lots going on, things are beginning to settle down now a bit. Found out yesterday our household goods are in Chicago and they will be here in another three days, man it will be nice to get my bed!!! I can say no regrets, do miss my LA friends and I think of you often hang in there summer is half way done!!

New blog coming

Sorry I have had a busy few days lots to blog about look for a new and probably long blog to catch up. Had a great day with our friends the Kerr's who understand the leap of faith better than anyone that I took. Talk to you all soon.

Summer fun...and heat!!!!!

It's been a busy few days as we settle in more, for those who saw my Facebook Saturday the Crouse 29 race team pulled off a win the home track in dominating fashion. Nice job to Jeff and especially Larry for getting the motor back together and working like a champ.

Sunday we finally got my boat in the water. Abbey, Hayley and I met Jacey and my sister in law Tracie for a day out on the water. It was a perfect day the water temp in the lakes made it refreshing. We went to the beach, Jacey and I made a sand castle then the girls tubed a bit but the most fun was the swimming out in the middle of Lake Carlos. One of the fun traditions we have is finding a deep spot in the middle of the lake and dropping anchor and diving off the boat and just having a blast. The boat after being stored for almost 11 months ran perfect. Only exception is when we dropped Tracie and Jacey at the dock and as we were pulling away the engine died. Tried to start and when I put it into gear it would just stop. Thought the battery was dead, it is at its 3 year life mark. We got towed over to the launch and I got the boat on the trailer as I was getting out of the Tahoe Hayley says to me, "is this suppose to be like this daddy?" Somehow one of the ropes off the tubes had made it into the water and got wrapped up around the propeller. Oops!!! We headed home and then went out to a nice dinner. After dinner I spent the night organizing the apartment to make it move livable, I have the girls on beds with me on the floor and were making due until our stuff arrives. My car has made it to Minneaplois so we head down tomorrow to get it.

Tonight (Monday), I played my first double header with my new softball team, JCWanner promotional marketing. They have to be nice to me since my name is on the shirts. We won both games, looked pretty good as a team lots of hits and really good fielding. My 60 year old father in law was the star. Two head first slides into home to score. It was HOT, 90 plus today with 70 percent dew point it was thick and the state bird was out in force at the game. Wow, forgot how aggressive they are at night. The other part of the day I spent doing yard work. Mowing, weed eating and cleaning as we get ready for the Trucker Wanner fireworks extravaganza!! Year 5 I believe. It has evolved into quite a big deal with games and great food and most of all great friends and family. It was nice getting out in the yard it has been a long time since I have done anything like that and it really looks nice everything is nice and green.

Well I am beginning to settle in things don't seem as crazy as they were. I have had my moments, stange they have come when I am doing the things I love the most. It so nice to see the girls adjusting very well and spending quality time with their cousins I think it is really importan to have that close bond as they grow up in life. Summer has arrived finally and I'm going to keep enjoying it to the fullest.